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Sagrada Família Installs Fourth Cross Arm on Jesus Tower, Final Lift Still to Come

The final vertical arm is slated next, with an inauguration targeted for June to mark Gaudí’s centenary.

Overview

  • Crews placed the fourth horizontal arm of the 17‑metre cross crowning the Torre de Jesús, leaving only the top arm to complete the structure.
  • Once the cross is finished, the basilica will reach 172.5 metres, retaining its status as the world’s tallest church and staying below Montjuïc as Gaudí intended.
  • Each prefabricated arm spans roughly 4–4.5 metres and weighs about 12.8 tonnes, requiring crane lifts timed to safe weather after recent wind delays.
  • The cross will measure 17 by 13.5 metres, clad in white enamelled ceramic and glass for a luminous, durable finish, with lighting aimed from surrounding towers.
  • Next steps include installing the Agnus Dei sculpture by Italian artist Andrea Mastrovito and preparing for a June 2026 inauguration, with a papal attendance request awaiting a Vatican reply.